The Manufacturing Challenge
The workpiece featured an offset protruding block with a flat datum that needed to be securely held while the face of the cylinder was super-finish ground. Standard clamping methods wouldn’t provide the stability or access needed because of:
- The offset geometry of the part.
- Limited clamping surfaces without interfering with the finishing operation.
- A need for balancing due to the offset weight distribution.
- access needed for a grinding wheel to re-grind the banking surface if ever necessary.
Northfield Precision's Solution
We engineered a custom face clamping fixture with the following key features:
- Offset & Angled Clamp Arms – Two specialized arms pull the workpiece down and hold it securely by its shoulders without obstructing the finish surface.
- Precision Diamond Locating Pin – A large diamond pin located off the bore of the protruding block to ensure repeatable positioning.
- Counterweight Balancing – A large counterweight block was integrated opposite the protrusion to maintain fixture balance and minimize vibration.
Results
Engineer's Tip
When machining parts with offset or irregular geometry, always consider a custom fixture designed for your specific workpiece. Purpose-built fixturing improves part stability, repeatability, and machining accuracy compared to standard clamping methods.